Overall an excellent title. I love the Warhammer books that really focus in on just a couple of characters and this one does a great job of focusing on Ragnar and letting him be the star of the show. You see him interact with other Space Wolves in both positive and negative ways. You see the conflict between the Space Wolves and the Flesh Tearers and how the chapters navigate interactions with each other.
This book is well grounded in that it reminds the reader Ragnar, and his band of space wolves, is just a small part of a wider chapter and an even smaller part of the imperium as a whole, so their influence is limited. What they do matters but is unlikely to change the course of the galaxy.
Overall, an excellent book.

In the world of Warhammer 40K, the Space Wolves are well known for their epic stories – that much is actually quite the understatement. Yet Ragnar Blackmane is one of the many heroes who made a name for himself and earned the rights to his own story, and series.

Written by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, Ragnar Blackmane is part of the Space Marine Legends series by Black Library. He, along with all of the others, really did earn that title of legend, that much is made clear over the course of this novel.

They say that our pasts make us the people we are today. That we can never run from our history. That is true for Ragnar Blackmane, a Space Wolf with an epic past, and an even more impressive future on the horizon.

Ragnar has found himself embroiled in a battle on Cadia – a world destroyed by war. Ironically, the events happening around him bring to memory certain moments of his past. All of which led him directly to the place he stands today.

“I have said that I will hold this wall until sunset,' Ragnar replied. 'So I will hold this wall until sunset.”

If you're looking for a solid novel that embodies the Space Wolves, look no further than Ragnar Blackmane. This is a rich tale, made all the more intense by the inclusion of events past and present. The two weave together in beautiful fashion, resulting in a powerful story.

One of the things I really enjoyed about Ragnar Blackmane is how approachable the story as a whole was. While I know a decent amount about the Space Marines, I'm far from an expert. This novel doesn't quite hold your hand through it all, though it won't make any attempts to mislead or confuse newer readers. It's the perfect balance, really.

He killed not with his blade, with his bolter, with his fist, or even with his boot. These were merely tools. Ragnar killed with his heart and soul, pouring himself into every desperate movement, sucking in life with every sawing breath.”

Overall, this was an intense and richly detailed read. One that was exciting from the very first page, with the introduction of Ragnar and the current battle he must deal with. The excitement ramps up as his past comes into play, allowing certain events to unfold in ways that explain how we got to this point. It was wonderfully done.

A really interesting novella covering one of my first favourite characters in the WH40k setting - I believe the model representing the character was released shortly after I started reading White Dwarf (many moons ago), so it was nice to read this novella. A good complement to William King's series that established the character's backstory. Well-written (as is to be expected from Dembski-Bowden), well-paced, and interesting throughout. Definitely recommended to fans of the character and setting.

I requested this book from NetGalley based solely on the fact that Aaron Dembski-Bowden was the author.

I’m not disappointed with the writing or the story in general, but these Space Marine Legends books all appear to be quite short by Black Library standards, and that was my biggest problem with the book - I can’t help but feel that given another hundred pages, this could have been a much better story. Still, it’s a good standalone that’s definitely worth a read for 40k fans in general and Space Wolf fans in particular.

One of the best Blackhammer novel I've read, mostly due to the main character!! I would recommend it for the fan and new comer of the franchise.

Another fantastic work by Aaron Dembski-Bowden, this re-release is fantastically timed with the new GW release of ninth edition models. Dembski-Bowden’s skill of presenting two stories intertwined allows the reader to see the events that shaped Ragnar into his current form, while brining the reader into his current situation. A great read, it is one that I’ll definitely push on any Space Wolf friends.